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Microsoft released the Windows 8-based Surface Pro in early 2013, and by the time we fielded our reader satisfaction survey for tablets last spring, enough Surface Pro's were in the hands of our readers for the company to earn a higher overall satisfaction rating (9.0 out of 10) than any other tablet manufacturer. Google (8.9) and Apple (8.9) were right on Microsoft's heels and all three shared our Readers' Choice Award for tablet devices last year.

One year later, Microsoft has released the Surface Pro 2 and two improved new versions of the operating system (Windows 8.1 and 8.1 Update). Redmond again wins our Readers' Choice award but this time it doesn't have to share the award with anyone! Microsoft again earns the highest overall satisfaction rating for its Windows 8/8.1 devices, down slightly from last year to 8.9.

Respondents also gave Microsoft's Windows tablets the highest overall reliability rating, a very impressive 9.2. This was despite the company having the third highest percentage of units needing repairs in the last year with 8 percent, behind only Asus (Android) at 10 percent and Dell (Windows) at 9 percent.

We ask over 20 additional satisfaction questions that get to the heart of why respondents feel the way they do about tablets. Microsoft led on many of these, including speed and responsiveness (9.2) and screen quality (9.4).

Windows 8/8.1 tablets can run the same applications as a Windows-based desktop or laptop computer, so it's not surprising that two-thirds (69 percent) of Windows tablets in our survey are used for work in addition to, or instead of, personal use. This is far more than any other tablet operating system and not surprisingly, Microsoft excelled in aspects such as satisfaction with email (9.2) and calendaring (9.2). Bu it's not all work and no play. Microsoft also had the highest satisfaction rating for gaming (8.0), tied with Apple's iPad tablets.

Where our readers felt Microsoft's Surface Pro tablets fell short was battery life (7.6, second worst, just ahead of Toshiba/Android), reading books (8.2; the lowest among all tablet brands) and, probably most important, the availability of apps (7.6, far behind Apple's top mark of 9.2). While the Surface Pro can run any Windows application, Microsoft's Windows App Store, where you can find apps written expressly for the tablet user interface, still has a ways to go to match the selection in the Android and Apple app stores. In fact, Microsoft's Windows RT-based Surface tablets, which are much more dependent on app store apps, had by far the lowest rating for availability of apps at 6.1.

Like Microsoft, Google is much better known for its software and services than for its hardware, but Google has a couple of Nexus tablets to show off its Android operating system. Google doesn't actually manufacturer the tablets. Its 7-inch offering is made by Asus and the 10-inch model is built by Samsung. While Google trailed Microsoft in overall satisfaction this year, it was just as likely to be recommended, earning an 8.9 (as did Asus/Windows). The only satisfaction category in which Google had the highest mark was in the availability of free apps (9.0), but it was consistently near the top in many areas, receiving its highest ratings for screen quality (9.1) and availability of apps (9.0).

Apple deserves all the credit for creating the tablet category and iPad owners are clearly still very satisfied with their devices. Apps remain Apple's bread and butter. The company got the highest ratings for availability of apps (9.2) and quality of apps (8.9). Among respondents with tablets less than a year old, Apple also had the highest ratings for overall satisfaction (8.9), reliability (9.2), and likelihood to recommend (9.0).

Asus makes a dizzying array of tablets for Android, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT. The company received its highest ratings for its Windows 8/8.1 tablets with its aforementioned 8.7 for overall satisfaction and a likelihood to recommend rating of 8.9. Like our Readers' Choice award winner, Microsoft, Asus had very high marks for speed and responsiveness (9.0), Web browsing (9.2) and email (8.9). Satisfaction with battery life (8.6) was second only to Dell's Windows tablets (8.7).

While Microsoft, Google, Apple, and Asus led the way this year, we were pleased to see that 13 of the 14 tablet brand/operating system pairs in our survey received overall satisfaction ratings over 8.0. Many companies now offer tablets in at least two screen sizes to provide options in portability, readability, and affordability. There wasn't a clear preference for one tablet size. Google's small and large tablets had identical overall satisfaction ratings, as did Samsung's. Readers gave the large-screen tablets from Barnes & Noble, Apple, and Amazon somewhat higher overall satisfaction ratings than their smaller screened stablemates, but the opposite was true for Asus's Android offerings.

Amazon has decided to go its own way in tablets, building devices based on a forked-version of Android called Fire OS. The tablets are designed to leverage its video, books, and music content as well as Amazon's own app store. The company received a good, but not stellar rating for overall satisfaction (8.4). However, we were extremely impressed by the rating of 8.6 for satisfaction with technical support. Support satisfaction rarely gets that high. Amazon introduced an innovative support tool on its Kindle Fire HDX tablets called Mayday, which brings live tech support right to your device's screen. We had several comments from respondents about Mayday and all were extremely positive. We hope other tablet and PC companies will learn from this success.

Microsoft
Microsoft repeats as a PCMag Readers' Choice Award winner for its Surface Pro tablets running Windows 8/8.1. According to respondents, the company has successfully built a responsive, attractive device that delivers for work and fun.

Google
Google developed the Android operating system and while you can buy Android tablets from lots of companies, those who went right to the source rate their tablets the best. Even if Google doesn't make the tablets themselves, it's done something right with its combo of partnerships and Android implementation.

Apple
Apple has been at the tablet game longer than any modern slate maker, but that doesn't mean our respondents were bored. Apple tied Microsoft for the highest overall satisfaction among new tablets and the iOS app offerings for the iPad were rated second to none.

Asus
No company offers more choices in tablets than Asus. Respondents were very pleased in particular with how their Asus Windows 8/8.1 tablets balance traditional PC functionality with the convenience of a tablet.

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